August 18, 2010

Democrats try to counter Blagojevich fallout at state fair

Posted by Rick Pearson and Ray Long at 10:15 a.m.; updated at 1:15 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan today warned his Democratic colleagues that voters are "very volatile" and that the party should address "head on" the scandal surrounding ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

“We all know that there’s a huge scandal hanging over our heads," said Madigan, speaking to Democratic county chairmen at a breakfast before the party's rally at the state fair.

Madigan, the state Democratic chairman, noted there have been “mood swings” over the last several months, most specifically he said because of Blagojevich.

“My view, my recommendation: Let’s deal with it head on,” Madigan said, in describing that Democrats led the charge to remove Blagojevich from office. “The Democrats in the legislature recognized the problem we had and we moved forward.”

The speaker was referring to the General Assembly's impeachment and ouster of Blagojevich in January 2009, weeks after the former governor was arrested on blockbuster federal corruption charges.

Democrats today sought to create a theme that Republicans in Illinois and nationally are a party of obstruction. The powerful Madigan said he and other Democrats have a legitimate record upon which to run based on efforts to improve ethics laws, reform state pensions and work to maintain services despite difficult economic times. But they were also quick to say that the national economy --- and not one-party rule in Springfield is --- the cause of the state’s massive deficit.

The keynote speaker for the breakfast was U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., a onetime performer on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Among the characters Franken portrayed on the show was the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill., father of current Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Sheila Simon.

Franken reprised his Paul Simon imitation before taking a crack at Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk, a five-term North Shore congressman. Taking note of Kirk’s problems in embellishing his military record and misstatements about his biography, Franken said Kirk not only had a “fuzzy memory” about his voting record but also a “fuzzy memory about his own life.”

Democrats are mindful of what happened to Republicans, who all but fell from the map in Illinois following the corruption conviction of GOP Gov. George Ryan. In the case of Blagojevich, federal prosecutors have vowed a retrial on the 23 corruption charges that the jury was unable to reach a verdict. That could happen during the height of the fall campaign season.

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, noted that unlike the federal jury’s verdict, the Senate’s impeachment trial “resulted in a unanimous verdict and a conviction on all counts and people know that.... I think we did our job.”

Gov. Pat Quinn, Blagojevich’s two-time running mate who succeeded the former governor following the Senate impeachment trial, said he’s “restored integrity to the governor’s office.”

“I run an honest government and I’m an honest governor and I know the people know that,” Quinn said. “George Ryan’s in jail. Rod Blagojevich is awaiting sentencing. I’m here to clean it up.”

Quinn contended Republicans have little room to try to take advantage of the Blagojevich issue because “they stood by and watched George Ryan go to jail. I stood up to George Ryan and I stand up every time I can for honesty in government.”

But Quinn also stood by Blagojevich during their fall 2006 re-election campaign and defended the former governor as "honest." Quinn now says Blagojevich “misled me.”

Democrats will head over to the fairgrounds for a rally and speech by former Virginia governor Tim Kaine, who is chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

In Chicago, Mayor Richard Daley declined to comment on the Blagojevich trial today.

Comments

Pat Fitzgerald, please go for a re-trial to right this wrong. Illinois needs this conviction to start sending a clear message to the corrupt politicians from Illinois that have damn near bankrupted the state, put our schools in harms way and have all but ensured a big fat tax increase to pay for their malfeasance. The good news is, since this is a federal prosecution, Illinois tax payers will have the help from the rest of the tax payers in the country to help bear the legal cost as we work to clean up our state. As for Blago, he is entitled to a public defender like any other person that can't afford his own attorney. Interesting his current attorneys are not willing to do this pro bono for him as they prfessed their undying loyalty to him on camera on a number of occasions. An 11 to 1 verdict to confict is not minor, go for 12 Pat, go for 12 !

1. Gotta retry!
2. Agree all current Dem leaders should pack it in. They're just as discrasful for supporting Balgo as they did then running from him in the last year!
3. We are the laughing stock of th country - just heard two diff discussions on the nat'l business networks on how bas the investment envrionment in Illinois is.

Speaker Madigan,Cullerton and the rest of our "Leaders" should all resign. If Illinois was a private corporation they would all have been fired for allowing the state to be billions of dollars in debt. This is no way to run a business.

Pat Fitzgerald: Don't allow your ego to get in the way of a rational decision. Another trial will put the people of this state through upheaval and demoralization. It will waste millions more dollars of taxpayer money; you are not 100% sure the next jury will convict Blago. Allow the state to spend this money on the many services for mental and physical health; police services to improve life in Chicago; save lives on the streets!

All 50 aldermen on the Chicago City Council had to file paperwork earlier this year detailing their outside income and gifts. The Tribune took that ethics paperwork and posted the information here for you to see. You can search by ward number or alderman's last name.

The Cook County Assessor's office has put together lists of projected median property tax bills for all suburban towns and city neighborhoods. We've posted them for you to get a look at who's paying more and who's paying less.

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